Dell Laptop Explodes At Japanese Conference (ka-BOOM caught on film)

The Inquirer ^ | 21 June 2006 | Inquirer Newsdesk

[Spktyr]

Dell laptop explodes at Japanese conference

INQ reader's amazing snaps

By INQUIRER newsdesk: Wednesday 21 June 2006, 13:22 AN INQUIRER READER attending a conference in Japan was sat just feet away from a laptop computer that suddenly exploded into flames, in what could have been a deadly accident.

Gaston, our astonished reader reports: "The d*** [edit mine] thing was on fire and produced several explosions for more than five minutes".

Should you witness such an event, his advice is, "Don't try anything courageous/stupid, stay away, away, away!"

"For the record, this is a Dell machine," notes Gaston. "It is only a matter of time until such an incident breaks out on a plane," he suggests.

Our witness managed to catch all the action in these amazing pictures.

"Fire extinguishers leave a mess on your suit and belongings; pack your stuff (if you can) and leave, leave, leave!" he advises.

We don't have any further details of the model of the computer in question. In light of the evidence, however, we'd suggest you avoid actually using a laptop on your lap. Ouch.

[Lakeshark]

I swear it isn't my fault.

We've heard those pitiful excuses before............we know better.........

[technomage]

So, my question is: Where were the hotel staff or attendees with the fire extinguishers??

[gov_bean_ counter]

Beat ya by that much.

[Darksheare]

Battery vented.
He probably bought one of those cheap 'clone' batteries out there.

[Spktyr]

Conference halls usually have really high ceilings and don't trip the sprinklers when the smoke detectors go off; the fire does not appear to have been large enough to trip the automatic (mechanical) sprinklers.

[RandallFlagg]

"Dude, you're gettin' a. . ." BOOM!

LOL! I can see someone putting together a video merging the Dell dude with this within the next few months.

[paulat]

I think it was a Dell AQ model (al-Qaeda )

WMDs?

Weapons of Mass Dells!!

[DoughtyOne]

I was going to ask if the new leader of Al Qaeda had taken credit yet.

[biff]

Once the batteries reach a certain temp they are self igniting and cannot be put out even with a fire extinguisher. Same thing with cell phone batteries.

[LowOiL]

Had a Dewalt 18volt battery blow up on me the other day, it happens.

BTW... I believe it has been warned not to use the laptops for long periods of time due to the heat produced, that it could cause problems.... mmmm... down there.

[Lady Jag]

Get a MAC! Get a MAC! Get a MAC!

[TChad]

Dell Support: Have you tried rebooting?

That's not Dell's usual tech support. They actually sound more like this:

"Is it that you have been trying first the rebotting?"

[small voice in the wilderness]

"It is only a matter of time until such an incident breaks out on a plane," he suggests.

Laptop jihadists, on a Control/Alt/Delete suicide mission.

[Texas_Jarhead]

LOL! Good one.

[Ditto]

The larger the battery, the more power it will dissipate in a very short time.

Ever seen a car battery go boom? It's Impressive!

[Thinkin' Gal]

This account has been banned or suspended.

[MaryFromMichigan]

[hobson]

No. No.. It's more like, "It must be a software problem, re-install the OS."

[July 4th]

You know, it's the Macs that have had problems overheating these days...and there's a video floating around of someone's iPod that melted.

[paulat]

"Is it that you have been trying first the rebotting?"

Thanks a lot, TChad...no explosion...but an eruption!!! Keyboard ruined!!! LOLOL!!!